Sony announces Xperia SP and L smartphones

Sony has announced two new smartphones in London – the Xperia SP and the Xperia L. The SP offers an impressive 1280 x 720 display, while the lower-end L model provides a more camera-centric experience. Both handsets are a little lower down the spectrum than the company's flagship Xperia Z device, but will come with a more wallet-friendly price tag when they hit shelves in Q2 of this year.

The Xperia SP is the higher-end of the two models, with its 4.6-inch 1280 x 720 display being the standout feature. While it isn't going to stand up to the full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution of the Xperia Z's 5-inch screen, there's still an impressive number of pixels in there considering this isn't the company's flagship smartphone. The handset features Sony's Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, which automatically adjusts the screen's contrast levels depending on the type of content being viewed.

The Xperia SP

Once you step away from the display, the rest of the device is the usual mid to high-level fare. The handset is powered by a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Dual Core processor, offers 8 GB of expandable internal storage, 4G LTE connectivity and an 8-megapixel camera on the back. There's no word on how much RAM either of the devices will carry.

Despite its smaller footprint, the SP is slightly thicker and heavier than its higher-end cousin, coming in at 155 g (0.34 lbs) and measuring 9.98 mm (0.39 inches) in thickness. The design of the device is largely in keeping with the Xperia range, featuring an angular co-moulded aluminum frame and a color-changing translucent bar at the base of the handset.

The Sony Xperia L range

The Xperia L is also powered by a dual-core Qualcomm chip, this time clocked at a lower speed of 1 GHz. The resolution of the device's 4.3-inch display is also a little lower than the SP's, coming in at 854 x 480, though there is a similar 8 MP shooter on the rear of the handset. The cameras on both devices come with Sony's “Exmor RS for mobile” sensor technology with HDR, with the Xperia L offering a dedicated camera key – something that's becoming more of a rarity on modern smartphones.

The Xperia L is a tiny bit thinner than the SP at 9.7 mm (0.38 inches), but due to its chamfered edges, features a similar footprint to the larger-screened device. The handset weighs in at 137 g (0.3 lbs).

Both devices run on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and come in white, red and black versions. There's no word yet on pricing, but both handsets are set to launch globally in Q2 2013.

Chris specializes in mobile technology for Gizmag, but also likes to dabble in the latest gaming gadgets. He has a degree in Politics and Ancient History from the University of Exeter, and lives in Gloucestershire, UK. In his spare time you might find him playing music, following a variety of sports or binge watching Game of Thrones. All articles by Chris Wood